HUM ALONG

ARTIST: POE
ALBUM: HELLO
SONG: TRIGGER HAPPY JACK
DATE: 1995
STATUS: NOT ACQUIRED

I saw the singer / song writer Poe live in concert in the summer of 1995 or 1996. She had a cello player in her band, because hey it was the mid '90s and Tori Amous was playing a harpsichord, so whatever get some cool instruments in there.

When I first heard "Trigger Happy Jack" on the radio, the DJ lead into it by saying "go ahead and hum along, if you can". Its many textures cut through the diverse radio of the day. I don't remember seeing the video ever, but now that I do I'm struck by how the visuals cut against the meaning of the lyrics. The song is about a woman drawn to a damaged boyfriend. Instead of demonstrating co-dependents, the video shows a woman who keeps men as playthings.